Means for heating and ventilating a hatching compartment in an incubator



May 6, 1958 B. F. STEPHENS 2,833,245 MEANS FOR HEATING AND VENTILATING.A HATCHING Fi led Oct. 25, 1954 COMPARTMENT IN AN INCUBATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 COMPARTMENT I Filed Oct. 25, 1954 VENTILATING A HATCHING N AN INCUBATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 6, 1958 B, F. STEPHENS 2,833,245

MEANS FOR HEATING AND VENTILATING'A HATCHING COMPARTMENT IN AN INCUBATOR Filed 001;. 25, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent 2,833,245 MEANS FOR HEATING AND VENTILATING A HATCHKNG COMPARTMENT IN AN IN- CUBATOR Basil F. Stephens,'Upton St. Leonards, near Gloucester, England Application October 25, 1954, Serial No. 464,589 3 Claims. (Cl. 11937) This invention relates to means for heating and ventilating a hatching compartment in an incubator.

According to this invention I provide a hatching compartment adjacent to a setting compartment and separated therefrom by a partition through which heat is easily transmitted from the setting compartment to the hatching compartment. The air withdrawn from the setting compartment is introduced into the hatching compartment efore being expelled to the atmosphere.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view, partly broken away, of the interior of a cabinet incubator according to one embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line IIII of Fig. l to an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of a cabinet incubator according to another embodiment of the invention, hatching trays being enclosed within the incubator; and

Fig. 4 is a detail View, on an enlarged scale, of one of the hatching units.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a cabinet incubator 1 comprises a setting compartment 2 and a hatching compartment 3 arranged above the setting compartment 2 and separated therefrom by a horizontal metal partition 4 supported on angle irons, the partition being of such a character that the heat from the setting compartment 2 can be easily transmitted to the hatching compartment 3, the walls and top panel of the cabinet being insulated. The trays for containing the eggs in the setting compartment are omitted for clearncss and only one tray 16 is shown in the hatching compartment. Fresh air is drawn into the incubator through the hole 5 by means of a fan 6 mounted on a stand 7 inside the setting compartment. The air entering the incubator through the hole 5 passes up the rear wall 8 of the incubator behind a partition 9 whereby it is warmed by being in contact with the warm partition 9. From thence the air passes through the aperture 10 into the setting compartment 2. After circulating through the setting compartment 2 the air passes through apertures ll provided towards the front of the horizontal partition 4 into the hatching compartment 3. Corresponding apertures 12 are provided in the supporting angle iron 13. In its passage to the apertures 11 and 12, the air is humidified by passing over a tray 15 containing water. After travelling through the trays 16 in the hatching compartment 3 the air finally emerges from the cabinet through air outlets 17 provided near the top of the side walls.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the incubator 21 is rectangular and formed with insulated walls. The back wall 22 is provided with two air inlets 23 near the bottom. The compartment is heated in any suitable manner, for example, by an electric element 24. A ithermcmtat 25, disposed in any suitable position, controls the heat of the incubator. A metal partition 26 is arranged near the back wall 22, but is spaced from it by distance pieces 27 which are staggered so as to provide a circuitous duct for the passage of the incoming air. The metal partition 26 is provided with a central aperture 28 in front of which a fan 29 is arranged for drawing fresh air into the 1ncubator.

The air is made humid by passing over a tray of water.

The heat of the interior of the incubator is transmitted through the partition 26 to the duct between the said partition and the back wall 22. A plurality of hatching units 31 are arranged in the incubator and mounted independently one above the other. Each unit 31 comprises a tray 32 to receive the eggs slidably arranged in a fixed casing 33. Each casing 33 is welded to upright angle iron 34 and the rear wall of each casing terminates a few inches from a metal plate 35 fixed in the wall 36. The front wall of each casing 33 is formed by a hinged flap 39 which can be opened so as to withdraw the contained hatching tray 32. A plurality of apertures 40 are provided in the flap 39 to admit air to the hatching trays and a hood 41 is provided outside of the wall 36 to provide a cavity. Rubber connections 37 lead from the interior of each unit 31 to the cavity between the wall 36 and the hood 41 through apertures 38 provided in the plate 35.

The air which is drawn in through the air inlets 23 by the fan 29 takes the circuitous course indicated by the arrows and by the time the incoming air reaches the fan 29, it should be very nearly the same temperature as the air within the incubator. The warm air then passes through the apertures 4% into the hatching units 31 and from thence through the connections 37 into the cavity between the wall 36 and the hood 41 and out through ports 42. The rate of flow of the air is controlled by any suitable means.

The method of heating and ventilating a hatching compartment according to this invention has the following advantages:

(1) No air, moisture or fluff from the hatching cornpartment can come in contact with the eggs in the setting compartment when both said compartments are incorporated in one incubator;

(2) A slow but positive air movement over the eggs is obtained without being affected by turbulence of the air movement necessary to maintain the even temperature throughout the incubator;

(3) Additional moisture can be supplied in the hatching compartment without affecting a setting compartment.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An incubator comprising an enclosure and a plurality of hatching units independently and fixedly mounted therein in spaced relation one above the other, each such hatching unit including a casing, an egg-receiving tray' slidably arranged in said casing, and means for passing warm air through each hatching unit and out of said enclosure Which is provided with a cavity common to all said units.

2. An incubator as claimed in claim 1, in which each hatching unit casing is provided at one end with a hinged apertured flap and at the other end with hollow rubber connections, an apertured plate mounted in said enclosure spaced from said casing and from said enclosure and with the apertures of which said rubber connections comm-unicate.

3. An incubator as claimed in claim 1, in which each hatching unit casing is provided at one end with a hinged apertured flap and at the other end with hollow rubber connections, an apertured plate mounted in said enclosure spaced from said casing and from said enclosure and with the apertures of which said rubber connections communicate, and a hood mounted on the exterior of said enclosure, said hood having outlet ports for discharging air passing through said aper-tured plate from said rubber connections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

